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Microsoft Has Reportedly Sold At Least 4.2 Million Windows Phones Since October

In November, Steve Ballmer announced that Windows Phones were selling at a rate of four times than they were last November – though he wouldn’t reveal specific numbers. Today, The Next Web revealed that approximately 4.2 Windows Phones have reportedly been sold since October 2012.

TNW found that by using active Facebook users as a metric, the number of Windows Phones is indeed surging. TNW says that, “In our initial reporting, a ratio of 6.756 handsets sold per active user of the Windows Phone Facebook application. That ratio could now be quite dated, as Facebook usage patterns change.” That said, they were able to almost perfectly predict how many handsets were sold in Q4 2011 (2 million), their algorithm is probably pretty accurate.

Using this algorithm, TNW now figures 4,236,012 have been sold since the start of the quarter. Interestingly, other sources estimate the number is quite higher – speculating the number of Windows Phone sold since October is at least 7 million.

If this data – and analysis – is in fact accurate – Microsoft is quickly becoming a dominant player in the mobile market, especially considering the recent launch and success of the Surface as well.

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I enjoy WP8 and am rooting for Microsoft to succeed, but I thought the Surface’s sales figures were considered disappointing. This is the first time I have seen someone refer to the success of its launch.

Surface has limited distribution – it is only available at Microsoft stores or online (both at which it has sold out, by the way.) Considering this, it’s doing well – you can’t expect a product to sell more than what is available. Also, it’s not a loss-leader by any means (Microsoft makes quite a profit on these tablets) but it’s undoubtedly bringing people into stores, many of which are new this year – and I wouldn’t be surprised if even though these people don’t walk out with with a Surface, they buy something else instead….which I’d consider a success for Surface.

The Surface has been such a success that Microsoft reduced orders. Did you get paid for this article? Surface may have limited distribution, but that was a Microsoft decision. It’s been reported that even within Microsoft itself the numbers have been disappointing. Oh and I wouldn’t trust those IDC predictions. They’ve been wrong before. Studies have shown that Small App developers have been reluctant to develop for Windows ecosystem. They make more money developing for the IOS and Android. An example of this is Indie developer Rubicon has told Pocket Gamer that its strategy gem Great Big War Game made a measly £52 in its first week on Microsoft’s new Windows RT (a special version of Windows 8) operating system. “If we extend the Windows RT launch for a whole month it’s probably going to make £150 – £200,” he explained. “The first month on iOS made us £70,000 and on Android it was about £50,000.” Yes Kelly Clay Microsoft has a success on it’s hands. People are running out and buying new PC. Oh, no, that’s wrong also. PC sales dropped also. In fact people are liking Windows 8 to that of vista. Maybe you should do research and show you are a journalist instead of writing a fluff piece like this.

Kelly, Microsoft has not sold even one Windows phone. They don’t sell any phones since their disasters with the Kin. The actual sales numbers for companies selling phones with versions of Windows Phone 7 or 8 are absolutely dismal, a distant 3rd place to Android phones and iOS phones.

Surface has proved to be another disaster. Expecting to sell a minimal 4 million units over the quarter, Microsoft has had to cut their orders in half and estimates are they’ve only sold 600,000. As a result, they are being forced to change their marketing plans from distribution through online sales & Microsoft stores only to sales through other companies.

Don’t you realize that Microsoft’s refusal to give any actual numbers is an attempt to hide these disasters? Relying on estimates by companies with no access to sales figures is dubious at best. Contrary to your claims, Windows Phone sales do not make it “a dominant player” and Surface sales are embarrassingly poor. And you should be embarrassed for publishing this Microsoft Fangurl fantasy.